Motion-picture projector



19 1927. Aug v E. c. FRITTS MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1925 INVENTOR. Edwin G. Ffriiis, BY Wk. W";

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Aug. 1927. 1,6385 69 E. c. FRITTS MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

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9 1927 E. c. FRITTS MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 20, 1 925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

.Ul TE STATS EDWIN CQFRITTS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODiAK COIM- PANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' MOTION-YICTURE PROJECTOR.

Application filed February 20, 1925. Serial no. 10,599.

This invention relates to motion picture projectors and more particularly to improvements especially applicable to a projector ofthe type shown in the application of John G. Capstaif, Serial No. 10,601 filed Feb. 20, 1925, and intended'principally for home use by unskilled operators.

It. is customary in motion picture projectors-to thread the film between sprockets 1o fixed in position and presser members that are movable to and from the sprockets. In

such threading it is necessary to take care that the sprocket teeth enter the perforations of the film and that .loops are formed in the film so as to provide slack above and below the intermittent'take up mechanism. The objectof my invention is tto provide a mechanism that will perform this threading and loopingautomatically, that is, the film perforations will be properly seated on the-sprocket teeth-and loops of the proper size. will be formed without particular attention bein paid to these details.

.I' accomp ish this and other. objects by means of-the structure hereinafter disclosed and, particularly by mounting the sprocket so that it can be bodily moved into position between the fixed film guides,- whereupon the sprocket teeth will engage the perforations and push the film ahead of it, thus performing the operations .mentioned.

* Reference. will now be made to the accompanyin drawings'in which the same reference c aracters denote the same .parts throughout and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved projector, parts of the reels being broken away.

F1 s. 2 and 3 show the sprocket, guides and film with the sprocket in retracted and operative positions respectively,

Fig; 4 is a diagram showing the formation of the film loops.

' Fig.5 is an elevation from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. v

-Fig.- 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6+6 of Fig. 5. w Fig'. 7 is afragmentary end view showing the sprocket and guides in operative rela a longitudinal frame or artition 2 upon one side of which is a cylin rical casing 3 containin the pull down mechanism, not shown, a apted to draw a film F intermittently through the gate, that is, between the convex surface of the casin 3 and the cooperating concave surface 0 apresser member 4 mounted to swing on pivot 5 and resiliently pressed toward the casing. Mounted on the same pivot 5 is a frame 6 carrying the objective mount 7 and heldin place by a catch 5.

On the other side of the partition 2 is a lamp house 8 from whichlight is directed by a suitable optical system upon the film at the gate. The pulldown mechanism is operated from a shaft 9 extending through the partition and carrying gears 10 and 11, one of which 10 engages a pinion 11 to operate a safety shutter as describedin said Capstaff application. It is driven by suitable connections from a motor in casing 12. The above general arrangement is mentioned in order to show a typical structure to which my invention is adapted but of which a more detailed description is unnecessary to an understanding of my invention. v

The film F is fed in a loop around the casing 3 from a supply reel 13 to a take u reel 14 by means of a single sprocket whee 15 against'which the film is held by' fixed bowed guide members 16. These are formed on a supporting plate 17 and held on the partition 2 by bolts 19, which also support rollers 20. S rocket 15 is fixed to a stub shaft 21 whic passes through an arcuate .slot 18 in partition 2 and 'is journaled in the frame 22, this frame being pivoted at 23 to the rear of partition 2. Upon shaft 21 are fixed a gear 24 lying between the plates 25 of frame 22 and a pulley 26 in the rear thereof. At the upper end of frame 22 is a hollow stud 27 extending through an arouate slot 28 in partition 2, and'carrying a head or button 29 slidable thereon and drawn toward-the partition by; spring 30. At each end of slot 28 is a seat 31 in which this head seats but from which it may be readily withdrawn against the action of the spring; This furnishes means for ositionving the frame with the shaft 21 at elther end of slot 18. When at the forward end of theslot nearer the casing 3, the gear 24;: meshes with ear 11 and the sprpucket 15 is thereby tune to advance the The spring belt 32 passes around one 111 ley 26 and pulley 33 on the, shaft34: of the take up reel 14. Another spring belt 35' passes around the other pulley 26 and pulley 36 on the shaft 37 of the supplyreel 13.

Each of the pulleys 33 and 36 is connected 'to its respective shaft by a one way clutch of any familiar type. As shown in Fig; 9, the pulley 33 has camming recesses 38 with rollers 39 "therein, there being very light springs 40 to insure that-the rollers will i engage shaft 34 when the pulley is turned in one direction. When turned in the other direction the clampin action will be re leased. This is a familiar type of clutch.

The motor is reversible so that it will turn the mechanism in either direction, that the. film may be passed in either direction throughv the machine, permitting portions to be, reversed and reprojected as desired. The one way clutches are so designed that the reel from which the film is-being wound .will run. free and the other reel will be driven.

The film is the upper side of theupper reel 13 and the lower side of the lower reel 14. Referring to Fig. 5, when the sprocket is turning in a counter clockwise direction, the pulleys will be turning in the same direction; the-lower pulley only having a driving connection with its shaft; and the upper reel running free; while when the pulleys and sprocket turn reel runs freely and the upper one is driven.

When. the frame 22' and sprocket 15 are in their operative, normal or forward position, shown in full lines in Fig. 5, there is a tension exerted on the belts sufficient to drive whichever reel is operatively connectad but permitting the necessary slip. When however, the frame and sprocket are in their inoperative or rearward position, indicated.

' in dotted lines, the tension on the belt is so relaxed that it has no driving force and the film can then be wound directly from one reel to the other without the belt acting as a brake or interfering with such rewin'ding.

When film is to be threaded into the machine, the frame and sprocket are placed in the iearward position, the full reel is usually placed on the upper support, the end of the film is attached to the lower reel and suflicient film drawn out to form a coil that is positioned around the casing 3 and under the presser member 4 and between the sprocket- 15 and the guides 16, in the position shown in Fig. 2. The frame and sprocket are then moved forward, the teeth of the sprocket sliding along the film until they engage perforations therein, whereupon the sprocket pushes the filmahead of it forming additional slack in the loop and thus insuring that there will be suflicien't slack on each side of the intermittent pullcal to manufacture.

threaded from ,the sprocket to in a clockwise direction the lower messes Fig.4"shows the twopositions of the in full'and'dotted lines respectively. It will thus be seen that this apparatus is very accessible and easy to thread, insures the engagement of the sprocket teeth with parts down mechanism for the apparatus to fune I tion properly. F ig, 3 shows the'parts' just as; the teeth engage the perforations, and

the perforations, automatically forms the:

necessaryfilm loops removes driving; tension from the belts,

is, moreover, of simple design and economi- Another embodiment of my invention is shown in Fig. 8f Only the elements essential to an understanding of the invention are illustrated. A main shaft 50 is jour-,

naled in a fixed support 51 and carries the large gear 52. Mounted to swing freely about shaft 50 are the two frames 53, the movement of each being limited by the pin and slot connection 54 with the support 51. Each frame 53 has journaled near its outer end a stub shaft 55 carrying a gear 56 disconnects the sprocket .from driving relation with the motor, and

meshing with gear 52 and a sprocket wheel 57. Fixed bowed film guides 58 and guide rollers 59 are positioned substantially in the positions indicated. A. film gate 60, pulldown mechanism 61, objective mount 62 and supply and take up reels 63 and 64 are con- .ventionally shown in their positions relative In operation the frames to the other parts. and sprockets are retracted to inoperative position, the film 65 formed into. aloop between the reels and positioned with respect to the guides and. gate, and the frames and sprockets then moved to operative position-.-

In this movement, the sprockets will be positively turned through the engagement of the gears and will engage and feed the film suflicient to form ample loops above and below the gates. In Fig. 8 the lower sprocketis shown in inoperative position and the cor-' responding part of the filmis shown as it would be positioned by the operator. When the frame and sprocket are moved, a sprocket tooth will engage a perforation and push it ahead through about vthe angle 'indicated between the dotted lines, and forming the lower loop indicated in dotted lines.

The upper sprocket is shown in operative position with the film in final position,-the

film loop. being in equivalentsas are properly coverediby the appended claims.

\ window and guide.

' toward and from said 2. In motion picture apparatus, an exposure window, two film guides past which film may be threaded to and from said window, sprocket means movable toward and from said guides at acute angles thereto and.

thereby adapted, when moved toward the guides, to engage and move the film to form loops therein between said guides and said window.

3. In motion picture apparatus, an exposure window, a bowed film guide at a distance from said window, a sprocket movable guide at an angle thereto and fitting within the bowed guide,

and thereby adapted when moved toward the guide to engage a strip'of film threaded past said guide and window and move said film to form a loop therein between said guide and window.

4. In motion icture apparatus, a fixed, bowed film guide, an exposure window, separated therefrom, a sprocket movable toward and from said guide and adapted when moved toward said guide to engage a film threaded past said guide and window and to move said film to form a, loop therein between the window and guide. the film being held against the sprocket by the bowed guide.

5. In motion picture apparatus, an exposure window, two fixed, bowed film guidespositioned so that a band of film may be led past one guide to the window and then past the other guide, film advancing sprocket means movable toward and from said guides and adapted, when moved toward said guides to engage and move the film to form loops therein between the guides and said window.

6. In motion picture apparatus, a movable support, a film advancing sprocket on said support, an exposure window, two film guides, the support being movable to two positions. at 'one of which the sprocket fits within said guides, and is adapted to engage and feed film past said guides to and from said window, and at the other-of which the sprocket is spaced from said guides to permit the removal and insertion of film.

7. In motion picture apparatus, an 'ex-.

posure window, a film guide at a distance from the window, asprocket movable toward moved toward said guide toengage a film threaded past said window, and guide and to move said film to form a loop therein between the window and guide, the movement of the sprocket being toward and from said window whereby when the sprocket is .moved toward the guides it will engage and move the film to form slack loops thereininoperative.

, 9. In motion picture apparatus, a film advancing sprocket, a film reel support, pul-' leys connected to said sprocket and tosaid support, a frictional driving belt passing over said pulleys, the sprocket being bodily movable and having two positions at one of which said driving belt is tensioned to transmit power between said pulleys and at the other of which the belt is slack. 10. In motion plcture apparatus. a film guide, a film advancing sprocket, a film reel support, a power transmitting connection between said sprocket and said support, the sprocket being bodily movable and having two positions at one of which it is close to the guide. whereby film .is held in driving engagement therewith by the guide and at which the connection is operative and at the otheraof which it is spaced from the guide and the mechanical connection is inoperative.

11. In motion picture apparatus. a film guide, a film advancing sprocket, a film reel support, pulleys associated with said sprocket and support and a friction drive belt passing over said pulleys, the sprocket being bodily movable and having two positions at one of which it is close to the guide whereby film is held in driving position there against by said guide and at which the pulleys are separated to exert tension on the belt, and at the other of which the sprocket is spaced from the guide and the pulleys are closer to-- gcther whereby the tension on the belt is relieved. I

12. In motion picture apparatus, two-film guides, a movable support, sprocket means on said support, a film reel support, a power transmitting connection between said sup ports, the movable support having two positions at one of which the guides and sprocket means are close together and the mechanical connection is operative and at the other of which the guides and sprocket means are spaced and the mechanical connections are inoperative. v

' 13. In motion picture apparatus, two film guides, a movable support, a sprocket on and said sprocket, the, sprocket being movable and having two positions at one of Ill Mil)

*' and the gears are separated.

which the connection isoperative and at the other of which it is inoperative.

15. In motion picture apparatus, a film guide, a film advancing sprocket, a driven shaft, a power transmitting connection between said shaft and said sprocket, said sprocketbeing bodily movable and having two positions at one of which it is close to the guide and the connection is operative and at the other of which it is spaced from the guide and the connection is inoperative.

16. In motion picture apparatus, a film.

guide, a movable support, a film advancing sprocket on the support, a gear carried by the support and connected with the sprocket, a driven shaft and a gear driven thereby, the support having two positions at one of which the sprocket is close-to the guide and the gears intermesh and at the other of which the sprocket is spaced from the guide 17. In motion picture apparatus, two

by the support and connected with the sprocket,.a driven shaft, and'a gear riven thereby, the support having two positions at one of which the sprocket is positioned between and close to both guides and the gears intermesh and at the other of which the sprocket is spaced from. the guides and the gears are separated. v

p 18. In motion picture apparatus, a film advancing sprocket, a driven shaft, a power transmitting connection between said shaft and said sprocket whereby said sprocket is turned, a support for a reel, a power transfmitting connection between said sprocket and said support whereby a reel on said support may be turned to wind up film advanced from said j sprocket, said sprocket being movable and havi-n two positions, in one of which both 'of said connections are operative and in the other ofwhich both of said mechanical connections are inoperative.

19. In motion picture apparatus, a film' advancing sprocket, a driven shaft, a film' reel support, a movable support for said sprocket having two positions, power transmitting connections between said sprocket and said {driven shaft and between said support having two fi m' guides, a movable support, a film advancmg sprocket on the support, a gear carried.

sprocket and said reel support, both ofsaid I connections being operative when the sprocket support is in one positlon and both of said connections being moperatlve when the sprocket support is in the other position.

. 20. In motion picture apparatus, a film 'de, a film engaging sprocket, a driven shaft, a film reel support, power transmittin connections between said sprocket/and sai shaft and between said sprocket and said support, said sprocket being bodily movable and having two positions atone of which it is close to the guide and both connections are operative and at the other of which it-is spaced from the guide and both connections are inoperative.

21. In motion picture apparatus, a film guide, a movable support, a sprocket on said support, a film reel support, a driven shaft,

' power transmitting connections betweensaid shaft and said reel support including elements on the movable support, said movable ositions at one of which the sprocket is c ose to the guide and the connections are operative, and at the other of which the sprocket is spaced from the, guide and the connections are inoperative.

22'. In motion picture apparatus, two film guides, a movable support, a film advancing sprocket on said movable support, two film reel supports between which film may be .moved past said guides, a driven shaft, me

chanical power transmitting connections between saidshaft and said sprocket, drive pulleys associated with said sprocket and said reel'supports and friction belts passing over said pulleys, the-movable support having two positions in one of which the film is held indriving position there against by said guides, the power transmitting connectlons are operative and the belts are under sufficient tension to transmit power between saidpulleys and at the other of which thesprocket is spaced from the guides, the power transmitting connections are inoperativeand the belts are under insuflicient ten;

sion to-transmit"power.

. 23. In motion picture apparatus, an exposure window, two film guides, two film reel supports, between which film from reels thereonmaybe formed into a loop passing said guides and window, a driven shaft, a movable support, a film advancing'sprocket on said movable support, mechanical power transmitting connections between said shaft and said sprocket, drive pulleys associated with said reel supports and said sprocket and friction belts passing over said pulleys to transmit power from the sprocket to the reel supports, the movable support havlng two positi'ons'in one of which the film is held in driving position there against by said guides, the 'power transmitting connections are operative and the belts are under suflishafts and containing one way clutches,

-cient tension to transmit power and at the connections are inoperative.

operative in difierent senses, 'whereb one shaft will be driven when the sproc et is 15 turned in one direction and the other shaft will be driven when the sprocket is turned in the other direction, said sprocket being movable and having two positions in one of which it is close to the guide and both con- 20 nections are operative and in th other of guide and bothwhich it is spaced from the Signed at Rochester, New York, this 16th day of February, 1925.

, EDWIN FRITTS. 

